Do we have to abide by what the judge said? help please!

Hi all,big day today, placement orders made so all systems go. Instead of being excited, I am freaked out! SW emailed that 'the judge's view is that DD should start school in September in Bananatown so that there is as little disruption as possible in her routines'. This was followed by me being copied into fairly frantic-sounding emails between SWs saying we need to have a meeting quick, prioritise the case because of the school issue, get to panel 1st week in August, speak to the panel advisor to see if we can get an early decision etc etc etc.

Right from the beginning I was told SWs think DD should delay starting school until January, to allow us to bond, and I agree with this. More importantly, DD has only recently been told she will not be returning to BM who she is very defensive of and attached to and who she states she wants to live with. The plan was for her to have CAMHS assessment and some lifestory work to get her ready to move, and it was emphasised even before we were linked that I'd have to be willing to go at DDs pace, which of course I am. Now suddenly a judge has an opinion and all of that sensible stuff seems to have gone out of the window and they're all running around going 'okay, panel in 2 weeks, move her, start school in September'!

I am freaking out. I feel like if DD is moved so quickly, before the lifestory work, and then made to start school very shortly after, we are going to have massive massive problems. I feel like we are being set up to fail, DD's not ready to move to her new family, she's not ready to start school straight away, I'm scared it'll go so badly.

What can I do? Do SWs have to abide by the judge's opinion in this? And by extension, do I as they still will have PR? Should I voice my concerns now, should I conveniently have a holiday booked for the August panel date? All the information I know about DD screams at me this will be bad but now all the SWs seem to be concerned about is getting it done asap with no concern for the stuff which previously was important. I don't agree that starting school in September will cause as little disruption as possible, this little girl is about to be removed from everything and everyone she has ever known, I think that's a bit more important and a bit more disruptive than not starting school the first week in September!! Can anyone advise me what to do?

Be very, very, very wary of social workers who are pushing things through quickly without the preparation work being done... am speaking from experience. Do not let them bully you. In one case I know of, the social workers pushed through to introductions and placement without proper preparation work so the foster carers could go on holidays (which they were rightly due) and so the social workers wouldn't have to find respite care for the children. Just an example - I have a couple of others that are horrendous, but you are as much a part of this process as any of the 'professionals'. If you've been deemed as the best match for this child, you can feel confident that your voice should be heard as an equal partner in the preparation process.

My concerns would also mainly be with respect to sudden reduction of contact.IMO contact with BPs need to have ceased a month (at least) before introductions. Otherwise little one may get muddled and think you are the reason why she can no longer see them.

My ADD1 was older than yours, but after moving in we had a lot of tears in the first weeks over why she couldn't live with / see BM any more. But at least contact had stopped beforehand and we weren't being blamed (we directed that towards judge / SWs).

Also agree no rush to start school. You can do phonics and counting games with her at home which is all that is important.

I tried emailing the family finder but her out of office came back. My SW is pretty flakey and tends to only hear the bits she wants to, so I don't have a lot of faith in her advocating for what I'm saying. I'm clinging onto the tiny hope that the deputy team leader is pushing so fast because she has only skim read the details of the case, and will see sense when she has the facts. It's a slim hope though - the family finder was pretty clear in her email saying 'we need to plan this carefully and learn lessons from case x' which to me sounds like a previous case which didn't got that well for reasons I don't know but the deputy team leader should.

I'm due to meet the FC on Friday - I hope she will have something to say about the hurry as well, although this is her first placement so she may not have anything to compare it to. The point that DD may blame me for her not being able to see BM is a good one, thank you I will raise that if/when anyone decides to include me in discussions! I'll update when I know more, thanks all for your support.

The meeting happened, and I am massively relieved! I don't know what went on in the meeting but my SW emailed afterwards saying panel will go ahead in August but they have agreed that DD definitely needs some therapy to help her move on and be able to attach to me. So although the judge advised moving quickly, the team have decided we must go at her pace, as well as consider her readiness for school. I'd be even happier if there was a bit more of an explicit timeframe/plan, but I'm very relieved the SWs now seem to be on the page I'm on! Thank you all for your support, I'm now looking forward to meeting the FC tomorrow feeling much better!

Banan fab, great news. I am sure you are already doing this but my total novice attitude would be to keep a note of all wording of conversations and all copies of emails etc and when the conversatins happened so if at any time the pace hots up again you can say but on 19 july at blah blah time we talked by phone about blah blah or I got this email etc etc. I am not sure it will make any difference but if they put in writing or say explicity 'this' is best then if thehy later try and say no 'this' is not best you can at least highlight it, you can the memory of what was decided even if the plans are not as firm as you would like them to be.

Glad too here everything is progressing more positive for you all.There will still be issue's which will be made aware of , keep your thought private go with the flow , engage with court social worker and your solicitor regards any concerns you have, make sure you obtain full history of child (this is a requirement now by law) and life story work.There may be issue's which have not been followed up Social or Medical,this is not unusual, You will still be able too negotiate with LA's Education Department regards starting school best too enrol for September Term too secure a place though.Very pleased for you hope everything work out OK for you.

Hi all, had a really good meeting with the foster carers yesterday, they obviously care a lot and had brought along photos, nursery report etc, answered all of the questions I asked and asked a lot of questions about me too which I thought was a good sign!

Reading between the lines of a few things which were said by SWs it feels like the family finder is very much the driving force behind making sure the therapy happens for DD before the move, and an application has now been made for funding for this to be paid for privately rather than wait for CAMHS, so things can get moving. So intros might be end of August/early September depending how it goes.

Italian good point, I do try to email rather than phone so I have a record of what's been said.

fasparent the LAC education team have advised as you say to apply for the school place as soon as the match is ratified, to be sure of a place. The school I've chosen isn't considered a desirable school by a lot of criteria though and the reception class for September is currently only half full, so hopefully it will be okay.

Have been in same situation regards schools, and have moved children too suitable schools later, including SEN School's. But had too fight our ground. You will Know your child best in time and you will be the parentso keep an open mind. Good luck and bless you all.

Hi Italian no news as such, no-one has let me know either way if the funding application was successful or if it hasn't been heard yet. I have been emailing with the lovely FCs who have sent me more photos as well as patiently answering my questions about what car seats and washing powder and stuff they have! Have a lovely holiday.

Banana - keep an open mind re school. DD1 came to us in October and she started school 2 weeks after. I was worried it would be too soon but she was pleading to go and wanted to get on with making friends, wearing a new uniform and generally fitting in. I think for her it has helped with a feeling of permanency.

Hi Italian matching panel said yes so we are all systems go sort of - pending therapy for DD but SWs have got a therapist now so that should be imminent. I was sooo nervous driving to panel, I kept thinking soon I might be driving this same road to intros! But by the time I'd got there I was pretty calm and it all seemed to go quite smoothly. I was expecting a much harder time at matching panel than for approval panel, but for me this panel seemed much more positive than my approval panel.

School wise you are right MissFenella about keeping options open, the school have indicated they are willing to be very flexible, so if she's really keen to start school DD could do a few half days for a longer period and ease in that way and still give us lots of time together. Thanks guys.